Aurevoir Nuku Hiva - Aurevoir Music

Our happiest moments as tourists always seem to come 

When we stumble upon one thing while in 

Pursuit of something else.

Lawrence Block

Three peaks in Hakaui Valley - one of the peak contains two 300 year old tombs

A quick note to say we have left Nuku Hiva and plan to enjoy French Polynesia for the next two months (until our visas run out) even though we are no longer on the sailboat.  A new type of adventure unfolds.

Fatu Hiva - The Remoteness of NO Airport

Every man can transform the world from one of monotony 

And drabness to one of excitement and adventure.

Irving Wallace

Sunset over bay of verges/vierges (penis/virgins) take your pick

We are heading for the Bay of the Penises, now named the Bay of the Virgins since the Catholics got involved in the culture of this beautiful country. Verge (penis in French) is very similar to Vierge (virgin in French)… In their own language the bay is called Hanavave.

Paul Gauguin and Jacques Brel

Put down that map and get wonderfully lost.

Unknown

Paul Gauguin, 1848-1903, died at 55 on May 8, 1903.

A large copy of one of his signatures (he was known to have about 5 or 6) welcomes you at the entrance of the cultural center bearing his name and dedicated to this loved, hated, damned, or controversial artist. The left depicts the Brittany period of his life while the right explores the Polynesian period.

Hiva Oa - Week Leading to Easter

One doesn't discover new lands without consenting 

To lose sight of the shore for a very long time.

Andre Gide

From mountain to sea

We had heard of delicious handmade banana beignets, impossible to find in stores or restaurants, only at people's homes. I inquired and managed to order some from Iris (many natives use Europeanized first names), who said she would bring some the next morning.

Hiva Oa Tour

Of all the paths you take in life,

Make sure a few of them are dirt.

Unknown 

Beautiful blue bays surround the whole island

Mike tells me that since I started speaking French daily, my writing is tainted with a French accent… As long as you understand the context, I hope you can enjoy it anyway.

The anchorage we are in is part of the nicknamed Bay of Traitor; supposedly called this way because when Spaniards stayed here, for a whole week in 1595, they were always fogged in. They left without ever seeing anything.

Hiva Oa - Take One!

Whining is not appropriate in the Marquesas.

Jacques Brel 

"Gémir n'est pas de mise" aux Marquises

Welcome to our first island of 'Les Iles Marquises' in French Polynesia. Our passports have been officially stamped and we are good to be here for a maximum of 90 days or until July 11. Unlike so many other officials we have met in our travels, the gendarme here is very friendly and rather funny, even making off comments about his own French bureaucracy. These hushed comments were lost on the English speaking crowd from the US, Canada, and Australia, but they gave me a good chuckle.

Pacific Crossing Week Three: April 4 - 10 - Bonjour les Marquises

Some friendships are water soluble.

Deborah on Elan 

Our route over 21 days.  From Punta Mita, MX to Hiva Oa, FP

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Day 15 - April 4 - Boat Fever - How Do You Find Space?

Mileage: 115

Position: 01.18.7 N and 129.56.1 W

Total mileage: 1,994 nm

Pacific Crossing Week Two: March 28 - April 3 - How Many Shades of Blues?

The only thing worse than being blind is 

Having sight but no vision.

Helen Keller 

Dancing in and out of squalls

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Day 8 - March 28 - Would I Have Done This 3 Years Ago?

Mileage: 154 nm

Position: 12.51.8 N and 121.50.5 W

Total mileage: 1,109 nm